<p>Former US president George H W Bush has been admitted to the intensive care unit at a hospital here after battling a persistent fever all week, but he is alert and talking to medical staff, his spokesman said today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Bush Sr, who has been in the hospital with a lingering cough since November 23, was not even able to celebrate Christmas with his family.<br /><br />His spokesman Jim McGrath said the 88-year-old former president's fever rose yesterday, but doctors at Methodist Hospital report he is doing better than the day before.<br /><br />He was admitted to the ICU on Sunday and since has been on an all-liquid diet.<br />"He is considered in guarded condition," McGrath said.<br /><br />"He has suffered a series of setbacks."The fever is being treated with Tylenol, but it's not responding to the treatment.<br /><br />McGrath was not sure what caused the fever.McGrath said Bush is alert, having a "running banter" with his nurses and is surrounded by family. "His doctors have said emphatically this is not the end game."<br /><br />The 41st president was admitted to Methodist Hospital in late November for a bronchitis-related cough and has remained there to regain strength.</p>
<p>Former US president George H W Bush has been admitted to the intensive care unit at a hospital here after battling a persistent fever all week, but he is alert and talking to medical staff, his spokesman said today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Bush Sr, who has been in the hospital with a lingering cough since November 23, was not even able to celebrate Christmas with his family.<br /><br />His spokesman Jim McGrath said the 88-year-old former president's fever rose yesterday, but doctors at Methodist Hospital report he is doing better than the day before.<br /><br />He was admitted to the ICU on Sunday and since has been on an all-liquid diet.<br />"He is considered in guarded condition," McGrath said.<br /><br />"He has suffered a series of setbacks."The fever is being treated with Tylenol, but it's not responding to the treatment.<br /><br />McGrath was not sure what caused the fever.McGrath said Bush is alert, having a "running banter" with his nurses and is surrounded by family. "His doctors have said emphatically this is not the end game."<br /><br />The 41st president was admitted to Methodist Hospital in late November for a bronchitis-related cough and has remained there to regain strength.</p>